Thomas Unise
New research from Global Energy Monitor reveals an unprecedented surge in gas-fired power development in the United States, with data centers emerging as a primary driver. This expansion raises significant environmental concerns amid regulatory rollbacks.
The Scale of Gas Power Expansion
According to research released by Global Energy Monitor, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, the demand for gas-fired power in the US has nearly tripled over the past two years. If all projects currently in development are built, they would add approximately 252 gigawatts of gas power to the US grid—a nearly 50% increase to the existing 565 gigawatts.
Most notably, more than a third of this new demand—over 97 gigawatts—is explicitly tied to powering data centers. This represents a dramatic 25-fold increase from the 4 gigawatts of data center-related gas power development tracked in early 2024.
Environmental Implications
While natural gas burns cleaner than coal, the sheer volume of planned development poses significant climate concerns:
- Natural gas combustion already accounts for approximately 35% of US energy-related CO2 emissions
- Methane leaks during extraction are particularly problematic, as methane is 80 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas over a 20-year period
- Oil and gas production is responsible for about one-third of global methane leaks
- The US is the world’s largest producer of natural gas
Regulatory Context
This surge in gas power development coincides with the Trump administration’s efforts to both encourage data center construction and roll back environmental regulations. The administration has extended deadlines for regulations that would require oil and gas operators to monitor and prevent methane leaks, potentially exacerbating the climate impact of increased gas usage.
Development Realities
Not all planned projects will necessarily be completed. Several factors may limit the actual build-out:
- Data center developers often secure power from multiple utilities, inflating overall demand figures
- Announced projects may never materialize
- Efficiency improvements in data centers and AI training could reduce projected energy needs
- A global shortage of gas turbines may delay or prevent construction (two-thirds of tracked projects worldwide lack confirmed turbine manufacturers)
Even a partial build-out would be significant, however. Projects already under construction would add nearly 30 gigawatts of gas-fired power to the grid, with an additional 159 gigawatts in the preconstruction phase.
Industry Response
As Jonathan Banks, senior climate adviser at Clean Air Task Force, notes: “The implications are huge when you’re talking about this size of a build-out.” He acknowledges that “AI is not going away,” emphasizing that the challenge lies in finding ways to “diminish the impact of these facilities.”
Some data center developers are exploring on-site power generation options, including both gas turbines and renewable alternatives like solar arrays, particularly in regions with long grid connection wait times.
The Path Forward
The research highlights the tension between rapidly expanding digital infrastructure needs and climate goals. While natural gas with proper methane leak controls can be “dramatically cleaner than coal,” according to Banks, the current regulatory environment may not ensure such controls are in place.
As Jenny Martos from Global Energy Monitor observes, “We’re in that phase where we’re seeing the explosion in proposals. What materializes is yet to be determined.” The actual environmental impact will depend on how many projects are built, what regulations are in place, and whether cleaner alternatives can meet some of the growing demand.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings